Bag closing machine



1'? Sheets-Sheet 1.

Original Filed Sept. 26. 1922 T. ALLATT March 13, 1928, Re. 16,897

BAG CLOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 25. 1922 l Sheets-Sheet 2 I IlH C vwentor.

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T ALLATT BAG CLOSING MACHINE Orlglnal Flled Sept 26 1922 QM. lwww rMarch 13., 1928.

T. ALLATT BAG CLOSI'NG- MACHINE March 13, 1928.

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March 13, 1192s. TALLA" Re. 16.897

. BAG CLOSING MACHINE original Filed sept. 2s. 1922 17 sheets-sheet 9NIMH@ l 7 9 8, 6 1. n. R E N I MM LG Lm A Lm G A B March 13, 1928.

17 sheets-sheet 1o original Filed' sept. 2e. 1922 T. ALLATT BAG CLOSINGMACHINE Re* original Filed sept. 2e, 1922 17 Sheets-sheet 11 March 13,1928.

M h 13 1928 T. ALLATT an: BAG CLOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 26.1922 17 Sheets-Sheet l2.

Snom/woz T. ALLATT BAG CLOSING MACHINE March 13, 1928. Re. 16,897

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l 4 T. ALLATT March 13, 1928.

BAG CLOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 26. 1922 17 Sheets-Sheetl l5AT. ALLATT BAG CLOSING MACHINE M a'rch 13, 1928.

Original Filed Sept. 17 Sheets-SheetA 16 T. ALLATT March 13 1928 BAGCLOSING MACHINE Re. 16,897

original Filed sept. 2e. 1922 17 sheets-sheet 17 num uuml' Mmm1||||l|||1 Suva/woz @3kg/ @Ho/mam 5 Letters Patent' No. 1,395,612,

0"pended claims, without 50 vation of the machine, looking Reissued Mar.13, 1928.

UNITED STATES THOMAS ALLATT, F W TO MILLIE PATENT Re. 16,897A

PATENT OFFIC ESTFIELD, -NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

HOLDINGn C0. INC.,

0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F BAG-CLOSIN G MACHINE.

Original No. 1,637,509, dated August 2, 1927, Serial No. 590,622, ledSeptember 26, 1922. Renewed October 23, 1926. Application for reissueThe present invention relates to improvements in machines for closingbags. ItI pertains more particularly to a machine for closing bags oi.lthe typedescribed in U. S.

granted to Benjamin Hirschhorn on November 1, 1921. In the said patent abag is described, constituting a cartridge for percolating oilextracting the flavor from tea-leaves or coiiec,

l0 said cartridge comprising a bag having its mouth drawn into folds orpuckered, in conibination with a metal strip that encircle-s andcompresses said folds. The metal strip serves also to attach to thecartridge a string, to the free end of the latter' being secured ahandle.

The main object offthe present invention is to provide a simple andeasily operable mechanism, vwhereby the mouth of an already tilled bagis closed by puckering the saine and a )plying thereto a metalband, inthe form o a ring, that embraces the puckeied portion-of the bag, so asto prevent escaping of the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag closing machine ofthe character mentioned, which is automatic in its operation.

lVith these and other objects in view,4

which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, the saine consists in the combination, ari-'angeinent andconstruction o'tI parts hereinafter described, pointed ont in theappended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion ofthe several parts and details of construction within the scope of theapdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any ot' the advantages of theinvention. I

One of the man;1 possible embodiments of the invention is illustratedii. the accom- 45 panying drawings, in Wliich:-

Figure l is a top plan view' of av bag closing machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof; Figure 3 is also a Side elefrom the opposite side, on a smallerscale; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine; Fig. 5 is a filedJanuary 17, 1928. Serial No. 247,433.

section taken on line 5`5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 isla. sect-ion taken on line6- of Fig.l 5; Fig. 7 is a, section taken on line 7-7 ot' Fig. 1; Fig. 8is a side elevation of the metal strip feeding means and the elementscooperating therewith, on a larger scale; Fig. 9 is a front elevationot' the detail shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a top plan view, on a largerscale, of a portion ot' a machine; Figs. 11 and 1:2 are similar viewsot' the saine portion, the elements being shown in other positions; Fig.13 is a perspective View of the bag puckering mechanism and the elementsc`o-operating therewith; Fig. 1l is a perspective view of the sameelements, they being shown in other positions; Fig. 15 is a perspectiveview of the bag trimming mechanism,- Fig. 16 is a perspective view ofthe nieta] strip cutting device and the elements co-opei'atingtherewith; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a detail of the device shownin Fig. 1G; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the closure applying dies;Fig. 19 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the said dies; Fig. 2Ois a similar View of the said dies, in other positions; Fig. 2l is aside elevation ,of the mechanism for transporting stringsand handles tothe bags; Fig. 22 is a similar elevation, the elements being shown inother positions; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of an ejeeting mechanismco-operating with the 'closure ap-' plying device; 'and Fig. 24 is anelevation of the finished product 'made on the-machine.

Before describing the machine, the product made thereon will bedisclosed. This product is illustrated in Fig. 24 of the drawings, andcomprises a bag 25 of open-mesh textile fabric, such as cotton, and of asize tocontain just suiiicient tea-leaves or coffee for a singlebrewing. The mouth of the bag is closed by drawing or gathering the sameinto folds, and applying thereto a metallic band 26, that is shapedv toassume the form of a ring, embracing the folded portion of thebag belowits mouth, so as to prevent escaping of the contents. The ends of themetal strip are pointed or triangular, as shown at 27, and so arrangedin relation to each other that the small gap between tlie same isdisposedat an obli ue angle to a. plane at which one of the at faces ofthe encircling ring is located. For the purpose of facilitating thehandling of the cartridge, there is secured thereto a flexible means,for instance a string 28, to which is attached at its free end a handle29, made for instance of cardboard. This string serves also as the meansfor suspending the cartridge from the receptacle, such as a tea.- pot orcoffee-pot, in which the extraction is to take place. The string issecured to the cartridge by placing it against the folds around the bagmouth before the band 26 is formed to constitute a ring-shaped closingmeans for the bag. While the ends of the ring do not meet, as shown inFig. 24, the string 28 is under all circumstances securely held inplace, the triangular ends of the band overlapping, as shown.

The bag closing machine comprises a frame, including a horizontal tableportion 30, mounted upon legs or standards. 31. Above this table portionand suitably spaced therefrom is held a horizontally extending platemember 32. A horizontally extending 'driving shaft 33 is journaled in agear housing 34, which is disposed on the table portion 30. This shaftcarries a worm 33', in mesh with a worm gear 35 on a vertical shaft 35,the latter being journaled in bearings 36 on the table 30 and framemember 32, and constitutes the main driving shaft of the machine.Rotation may be imparted to the shaft 33 in any suitable manner from anydesired source of power, for instance, by the intermediary of a belt 37,running over a fixed pulley 38 on the shaft 33. On the last-mentionedshaft is also mounted a loose pulley`39, with a co-operating beltshifter 40 of any suitable construction, and including a bar 41, whichextends to the front of the machine, so as to be within the reach of theoperator.

In bearings 42 on the horizontal frame members 30 and 32 is rotatablymounted a vertical shaft 43, and to this shaft is fixed below the table30 a Wheel 44, having four equidistantly spaced notches 45 in itsperiphery. With these notches co-operates a spring-pressed pawl 46 on anarm 47, which is oscillatably mounted on the shaft 43 and connected by arod 48 with a pin 49, carried eccentrically by a disk 50, the latterbeing fixed to the shaft 35 below the table member 30. By means of thismechanism intermittent movement is imparted from the shaft 35 to theshaft 43, the latter being causedto move step by step in the directionof the arrow shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings adjacent the same. lViththe wheel 44 co-operates 'a mechanism which holds the shaft 43stationary during its periods of rest. This mechanism comprises a lever51, fulcrumed at 52 to the table portion 30 and carrying upon one of itsends a pin 53, adapted to enter the notches 45 in the said v arrangedwheel, and upon its other end an anti-friction roller 54, whichco-operates with the disk 50, the latter being made in the form of acam, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. This cam is so timed inrelation to the pin 49 that the pin 53 is unseated from a notch in thewheel 44 immediately before the pawl 46 starts its feeding stroke. Aspring 55, attached to the lever 51| and to a stationary part of themachine, causes the pin 53 to enter a notch immediately before the pawl46 starts its return movement. In case the spring 55 is broken,obviously the pin 53 would not enter a notch in the wheel 44 and theshaft 43 and others connected thereto, which will hereinafter bedescribed, would be permitted to overrun and cause breakage of theclosure applying dies, in addition to throwing the co-operatingelementsof the machine out of gear. In order to prevent such occurrence, thelever 51 is provided with an extension 51', with which co-acts a. camshaped disk 56, that iS keyed to the shaft 35 and provided with ashoulder 57. If the spring 55 breaks and the lever 51 is not shifted tobring its pin 53 into one of the notches of the wheel 44, the extension51 is, in the rotation of the shaft 35, brought to `bear against theshoulder 57, thereby pre- Aventing the shaft 35 from further movement,

the belt simply slipping on the fixed pulley 38. After the broken springhas been replaced and the machine is againin order to run, the extension51 is swung out of the path of the shoulder 57, the-machine running thenin the regular lnanner.

In parallel relation to the shaft 43 there are mounted on the machineframe shafts 58 and 59. To these shafts intermittent rotation isimparted by the shaft 43. For this purpose the shaft 43 carries a gear60, in mesh with a gear 61 on the shaft 59, these gears being of equalsize whereby the shafts 43 and 59 moveat the same speed in the oppositedirections. The shaft 59 drives the shaft 58 by means of a chain 62,which runs over sprocket wheels 63 and 64 on the shafts 59 and 58,respectively. A tensioning device 65 of any suitable constructionco-operates with the chain 62, for the well known purpose. The shafts 59and 5 8 are thus rotated in the same direction, the ratio between thesprocket wheels 63 and 64 heilig, however. such that the shaft 58rotates at a speed lower than that of the shaft 59.

To the shaft 58 is keyed` or otherwise at-` tached, aA horizontallyextending table 66,

below the level of the frame portion 32 and having radially arrangedequidistantly disposed troughs 67 on its upper surface. Above -eachtrough is located a fork-shaped arm 68, attached to a disk 69, which isfixed to the shaft 58. The outer ends of the prongs of the forksdiverge, as

clearly shown 1n llu permit of -a convenient insertion between the sameof a filled bag with its mouth flat, the length of the parallel portionsof a fork corresponding substantially to the width of the unpuckeredmouth of a bag. The bags are inserted between the prongs of theforkshaped arms with their open mouths extending a substantial distanceabove the said arms, they resting in the troughs 67 and being brought,one after another, in the intermittent movement of vthe shaft 58 againsta stationary ledge 70, that is disposed above the arms 68 parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the machine, the shafts 58, 43 and 59 beingdisposed in said axis, as clearly appears from Figs. 1 and 6 of thedrawings. lVith the ledge 70 cooperates a jaw 71, fixed to two arms 72,which, in turn,

vare attached to a short horizontally extending shaft 73, the latterbeing oscillatably mounted in bearings 74. The shaft extends parallel tothe ledge 70 and has fixed to it an arm 75, connected by a link 76 witha lever 77. This lever is fixed to a spindle 78, which extends throughthe frame member 32 and has lixcd to it below the said frame member alever 79, carrying an anti-friction roller 80, co-operating with a cam81, mounted on the shaft 35. The cam 81, by the connections described,causes the jaw 71 to swing toward the ledge 70 when a bag is brought torest against the said ledge, the jaw, together with the ledge, forming aguide, in the form of a passage 83, (Fig. 14), in which the bag is movedby means hereinafter to be described, toward the shaft 43, for a purposewhich will hereinafter appear.

Before the jaw 71 is swung against ,the ledge 70, a string 28 and handle29 thereon are brought against the open mouth of the bag. The stringswith the handles thereon are engaged, by an operator, with spring clips84 on a chain carrier 85, that runs over sprocket wheels 86 and 87` thecarrier extending. preferably, at right angles to the longitudinal axisof the machine, the sprocket wheels being mounted in bearings 88,carried by an extension 89 of the machine frame. wheel 87 is mounted aratchet wheel 90, with which co-operates a spring-pressed pawl 91, thatis connected by a link 92 with the arm 47, the arrangement being suchthat, when the shaft 43 's given a movement, the chain is moved to bringone of the strings 28 and handle 29 within the reach of a pair of jaws,denoted by the numerals 93 and 94, which take hold of the stringandtransfer it to a bag, which Arests against the ledge 70.

The jaws 93 and 94 are pivoted at 95 and 96,' respectively, to a basemember 97, that is oscillatably` mounted on a spindle 97', the latterbeing mounted on lugs 99 on the bearings 7 4. Through the jaw 93 extendsloosely a spindle 98, carried by one of the lugs 99.

V107 around its fulcrum On the shaft of the sprocket The spindle 98extends horizontally in parallel relation to the shaft 73, the pivotpins and 96 extending at right angles to the said spindle. The basemember 97 is connected by a link 100 with the arm 75, thereby causingthe said jaws to move toward the sprocket wheel 80 when the jaw 71 iscaused to more away from the stationary ledge 70 (Fig. 21), the jaws 93and 94 being brought to bear against a bag, resting against the saidledge, before The jaw 93 is provided adjacent its pivot 95 with aprojection 101, seated between two projections 102 on the jaw I94. Onthe spindle 98 is slidably mounted a collar 103, bearing against the jaw93, and against this collar abats one end of a spring 104, that iscoiled around the said spindle, its other end bearing against a sleeve105 on t-he said spindle. To this sleeve is pivoied at 10G a lever 1.07,that is fulcrumed at 108 toa stationary part of the machine frame, itsfree end carrying a pin 109, in the path of a slide 1 10. A spring 111has one of its ends connected to the jaw 93 and its other end to theelement to which the lever 107 is fulcrumed. The spring 111 is strongerthan the spring 104, it thereby having a tendency to hold the jaws 93and 94, by the intermediary of the projections 101 and 102, in theiropen positions, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Then the slide 110,in its movement toward the shaft 58, swings the lever 108, the sleeve105 is shifted in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, the movement being transmitted by the spring 104 and collar103 to the clamp 93, which swings around its pivot 95 toward closingposition, moving the jaw 94 also to closing position by the intermediaryof the coacting projections 101 and 102. The slide 110 moves toward theshaft 58, as will hereinafter appear, when the jaws 93 and 94 are intheir outer positions shown in Fig. 21 of the drawings, in which theyare brought opposite a string 28 and handle 29 on the chain carrier 85,thereby gripping a string and handle, which are then transferred againstthe open mouth of a bag, resting against the ledge 70. lVhen then thejaw 71 has been brought to bear against the said bag, the slide 110moves toward the shaft 43, thereby releasing the lever 107 andpermitting the spring 111 to open the jaws 93 and 94, thus releasing thestring and handle.

The slide 110 moves on the ledge 70, overlapping the passage 83 betweenthe said ledge and thejaw 71, when the latter is in its closing positionshown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. is to pucker the bag and transfer thesame to a carrier 112, that is fixed to the shaft 43. This carriercomprises a disk'lll havthe jaw 71 reaches the said The main purpose ofthe slide I

